Kempt
The short answer
Shortcuts can rename a file with Apple Intelligence if you build and maintain the shortcut yourself. Kempt is that, finished: the same on-device model, plus checks before every move, undo, search with cited answers and dossiers. Kempt also adds its own actions to Shortcuts.
Kempt $39 founding, then $49, one-time · Shortcuts + Apple Intelligence Free, built in
Feature by feature
| Feature | Kempt | Shortcuts + Apple Intelligence |
|---|---|---|
| Organizing | ||
| Names files from what’s inside them | YesApple’s on-device model, OCR and Vision | PartlyIf you build a shortcut with a model action |
| Names new downloads live, in the notch | Yes | No |
| Never moves a file it’s unsure about | Yes“Needs a look” | No |
| Undo any move, with the reason it moved | YesPer file, batch or day, each with its reason | No |
| Rules written as plain sentences | YesEnglish and French | No |
| Learns from your corrections | YesSuggests a rule; never applies it alone | No |
| Finding | ||
| Searches inside PDFs, scans and photos of paper | Yes | No |
| Answers questions, citing the source page | YesA figure must appear on the cited page | No |
| Ask out loud, in many languages | YesTranscribed and translated on your Mac | No |
| Finds what’s said in voice notes and videos | YesTranscribed on your Mac | No |
| Paperwork | ||
| Turns a landlord’s or bank’s email into a checklist | Yes | No |
| Ready-made rental, visa and mortgage dossiers | Yes | No |
| Monthly pack for your accountant (PDF + CSV) | YesTotals read from each document; ⚠ when unsure | No |
| Matches bank debits to receipts | Yes | No |
| Clean Up | ||
| Finds installers, duplicates and re-saved copies | YesSimilar copies are never pre-ticked | No |
| Never deletes: everything goes to the Trash | YesWith Undo | No |
| Privacy and security | ||
| Reads your documents on your Mac (no upload) | YesNo upload, no analytics | YesOn-device unless you pick another model |
| No account needed | Yes | Yes |
| Nothing to set up or host | Yes | Yes |
| Price and requirements | ||
| Price | Yes$39 founding, then $49, one-time | YesFree, built in |
| Runs on | PartlymacOS 26, Apple silicon; Apple Intelligence for naming | YesmacOS 26 with Apple Intelligence |
Proof, not promises
Measured on a real Mac (macOS 26) with about 1,600 real documents. Each test is re-run whenever the app changes.
- SpeedSearch time
- ≈10 msMedian search over 1,575 indexed documents; the first search after launch takes 25 ms.
- SpeedTo name a file
- 1.0–1.4 sWith Apple’s on-device model; 25 files in under 20 s in batches.
- SpeedFull Clean Up scan
- 0.86 sDown from 8.2 s; 83 MB of memory instead of 1.74 GB.
- AccuracyRight file first
- 12 / 13Scored search suite run on every change; answers cited from the right document in 0.9–2.2 s.
- AccuracyAccountant pack, right documents
- 48 / 50Against 50 hand-verified labels over three months; amounts 11 / 11.
- AccuracyItems read from real published lists
- 25 / 25Rental, mortgage and visa lists published by a rental site, a bank and an insurer.
- AccuracyWrong bank matches
- 0Three real statements, 74 operations, each balancing to the cent.
- SafetyFiles held for review
- 6.7 %Of 540 real downloads, the doubtful ones wait for you instead of being moved.
- SafetyFiles deleted by Kempt
- 0Moves are journaled before they happen and undoable even after a crash; cleanup only uses the Trash.
- PrivacyDocument uploads
- 0Reading, naming, search, answers and voice all run on your Mac with Apple’s on-device model. No analytics, no account.
How we compare: Kempt’s rows come from its own measured tests. Every other app’s row comes from that maker’s public pages on the date shown. When a page is silent or unclear, we say so instead of guessing.
When Shortcuts + Apple Intelligence is the better choice
- You enjoy building your own automations and need one narrow task.
Questions people ask
Is Kempt better than Shortcuts + Apple Intelligence?
Shortcuts can rename a file with Apple Intelligence if you build and maintain the shortcut yourself. Kempt is that, finished: the same on-device model, plus checks before every move, undo, search with cited answers and dossiers. Kempt also adds its own actions to Shortcuts.
Does Shortcuts + Apple Intelligence upload my files?
Shortcuts + Apple Intelligence: On-device unless you pick another model. Kempt: No upload, no analytics.
How much do Kempt and Shortcuts + Apple Intelligence cost?
Kempt: $39 founding, then $49, one-time. Shortcuts + Apple Intelligence: Free, built in.
When should I choose Shortcuts + Apple Intelligence instead?
You enjoy building your own automations and need one narrow task.
Can I use Kempt and Shortcuts + Apple Intelligence together?
Yes. Kempt keeps your files as ordinary files in ordinary Finder folders, so every other app still sees and uses them.
Sources
How we compare: Kempt’s rows come from its own measured tests. Every other app’s row comes from that maker’s public pages on the date shown. When a page is silent or unclear, we say so instead of guessing. $39.
Guides
- How to rename PDFs and scans by their content on a MacTurn “scan_0042.pdf” into “2026-10 Electricity bill EDF.pdf”: Finder batch rename, Shortcuts, and Kempt’s on-device naming compared.
- Private AI for your files: organizers that don’t upload your documentsWhich Mac file organizers send your documents to the cloud and which don’t. How Kempt uses Apple’s on-device Foundation Models: no upload, no account, no analytics.
Other comparisons
- Kempt vs HazelRule-based folder automation for Mac
- Kempt vs SparkleAI cleanup and folder organizer, by subscription
- Kempt vs FilesMagic AIAI renamer and organizer for Mac
- Kempt vs DEVONthinkDocument database and research workspace
- Kempt vs SpotlightSearch built into macOS
- Kempt vs Paperless-ngxSelf-hosted document management server
- Kempt vs NameQuickAI file renamer for Mac and Windows
Try Kempt free
Names, files and finds your documents with Apple’s on-device model. Nothing leaves your Mac. $39.